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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Working from Home

When most people think of working from home, it’s a positive thing. Especially when people don’t work from home, they really see the appeal and wish they could bring that situation into their lives.  Whether you’re still looking for your perfect work from home opportunity or you think you’d like to have one someday, it’s important to know if you and your lifestyle could handle it.

Before you make a big change such as working from home, make sure you’ve ironed out some of the important details of such a big transition.

Am I able to eliminate distractions?

Some of us simply don’t lead the lifestyle that will allow for eliminated distractions.  Whether you cannot get the childcare or your living situation doesn’t allow for it, you need to know if you would be able to work from home.

Ask yourself if your family and living situations fit into a work from home career. In some cases, it actually works out better when work is done outside of the home.  It truly depends on your individual situation, but it’s something you must consider before making the leap.

Am I motivated?

Working from home requires a lot of self-motivation and the completion of work without being directly managed, in most cases.

While it’s not a crime to lack that motivation, it’s incredibly important that you know if you’re capable of it or not. Some of us work much better in a structured environment, and actually thrive on the structure and office environment.

Am I able to provide the workspace?

Working home doesn’t necessarily require a separate room, but it’s very important to have a calm, spacious place to do your work. This can require a slight investment, some time, and the willingness to discover what works best for your comfort.

If you’re unable or unwilling to complete a setup that will make work comfortable and productive for you, working from home may not be the answer. In a traditional office, all of this is done for you, so taking on the telecommute position will require that you do this for yourself.

Am I okay without seeing co-workers daily?

Working from home doesn’t need to be an isolating experience, but it can feel that way for some.  Are you okay without seeing co-workers, bosses, and people in general for longer periods of time?

Of course, if you can get out of the house from time to time, that’s great, but you will still go longer stretches without seeing people. Again, some people love this idea, and it works out well for them. Others will balance working from home with social activities and networking opportunities.

No matter what you decide, make sure that you ask the tough questions before diving in.  Working from home is a wonderful concept and works for many, many people, but only you know if it’s best for you, your personality, and your unique situation.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

Working Moms: Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes During Baby’s First Year

Your maternity leave is over, and it’s time to go back to work. In one arm, you have a newborn baby to care for; in the other, you have a laptop. First realization: You will be living a double life from here on out.

If you are fortunate enough to work from home, it will be (slightly) easier to strike a balance and remain (somewhat) in a state of harmony. Take a look at four common oversights many working moms make in their baby’s first year, so you don’t make the same mistakes.

1. They Don’t Swaddle

A fussy baby will take the wind right out of your new mom sails as persistent exhaustion sets in. Swaddling is a time-honored technique that creates a safer sleeping environment for babies. Swaddling gently supports the baby’s natural position with legs and hips flexed inside a snugly fit blanket. The many advantages of swaddling include:

  • Supine swaddling (swaddling and placing babies on their back) can help reduce risk of SIDS
  • Swaddled babies sleep better
  • Swaddling reduces colic and fussiness
  • Swaddling can help when baby is learning to breastfeed

Not all swaddles are made the same. Choose blankets that are large enough to swaddle properly and are made from soft materials like cotton flannel and cotton muslin. Swaddle blankets made by SwaddleDesigns come with instructions sewn right on the tag, so you’ll never be left scratching your head. These designs are available online or at Target stores nationwide.

2. They Don’t Preserve Enough Memories

Sixty-one percent of mothers return to work at some point in baby’s first year, according to a Child Care Aware of America study. Because parenthood, work and life in general consumes so much time, many parents are not able to preserve the memories they’d like to. Then later on, feelings of guilt crop up.

If you work remotely, you have a better chance of catching and preserving milestones. For a little help to that end, check out this Parents article featuring creative ways to preserve memories.

3. They Don’t Let Others Help

The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” still rings true in many ways. If you are fortunate enough to have family and friends nearby, take advantage of your personal village. Here are some tips to help reduce stress:

  • You can’t effectively do it all. Ask your family for help.
  • If your spouse or other children ask to help you out, say yes. You may not realize it, but when you accept their help, they feel good about themselves. This can create a stronger family bond and reduce the stress on everyone.
  • If budget permits, get help from outside sources. Let the dry cleaners do your ironing or call a home cleaning service to dispel the dirt.
  • Delegate the things you don’t like to do.

4. They Rely on Motion to Get Their Baby to Sleep

Many parents will go to great lengths to help their child fall and stay asleep, but some of these methods are mistakes. Put an end to aimless driving through the neighborhood at midnight because your baby can’t sleep without being put in motion.

A child misses out on a deep, restorative sleep with motion-induced sleep. You don’t completely have to give up the idea of a musical swing, though. It’s okay to sooth an ornery baby with motion, but once sleep hits, stop the action and let him sleep soundly.

Being a working mom with a newborn is hard. But if you avoid these common pitfalls, it can be the most rewarding time of your life. And by swaddling, preserving memories, letting others help and teaching your baby to fall asleep without motion, you can sit back and feel a little less stress and a lot more connection.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

3 Easy Ways to Reduce Work from Home Clutter

When you work from home, your home is your office and vise versa!  Since there’s so much overlap between the two, it can be easy to see how clutter can accumulate in your work from home job.

While clutter is part of the norm in most people’s lives, it can truly reduce productivity and create a lot of mental and visual stress. When everything is kept organized and clutter-free, you’re free to focus on work.  Create some of the simple systems below for organizational, clutter-reducing tips that will keep your home office stress free!

Close Your Tabs

You know all those tabs you keep open in your browser?  Close them!  Keeping tabs open not only makes your computer run slower, it adds mental and visual clutter.  It can be stressful to open your window and realize that you have a million things “to do” or “to read” that have been sitting there for weeks.

Instead of collecting tabs, send yourself a daily or weekly email with all links of things to do or read.  Get in the habit of clearing your tabs on a very consistent basis – it will both visually and literally clear up space in your mind and on your computer.

Keep it in One Space

If at all possible, keep all of your notes, appointments, calendars, presentations, and so on in one space.  Google Docs is a great place to utilize documents, spreadsheets, and presentation slides, and you can integrate Google Calendar to be all under one program.

Another great tool to use is Dropbox, since it allows you to keep all of your files organized and in one place.  The more you can keep things together, the better! It’s easier than searching around endlessly for files, and it keeps them from clogging up your computer’s processing speed.

Spruce Up Your Computer

Since we’re in the theme of organizing, spring cleaning your computer is important to run speed and your personal organization.  We already discussed keeping browser tab numbers down, but there are other ways to keep your computer running quickly – and yourself organized in the process.

Another common place of overwhelm is the desktop.  Make it a habit to clean off your desktop at the close of your workday, everyday.  This way, when starting your day tomorrow, you’re not seeing tons of icons and files all over your screen.

Lastly, organize your files.  When you get into the habit of clearing off your desktop daily, organizing files will become even more crucial! Create names for files that are easy for you to remember, and schedule time for filing each week.  In the end, removing computer and office clutter doesn’t need to be tough or time-consuming.  Making some time for these tasks each week is just another key to work from home success!

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Home Workout Options for Busy Moms

Staying fit while working from home is a priority, but leaving the house to hit the gym can feel impossible most of the time! Between your home-based career, family, and other hobbies, there has to be a better option out there.  Home workouts for busy moms are the answer, and they can be just as challenging, useful, and productive as gym workouts.

While you may be a busy mom, maintaining your health is so crucial to caring for the rest of your family and successfully doing your job. Check out some of these excellent, low cost, effective options to integrate into your home workouts.

Barre3

Barre3 is said to “balance, strengthen, and lengthen the body with moves inspired by ballet, yoga and Pilates.”  While you can go to numerous Barre3 studios across the country, they also offer affordable online videos to complete with just a waist-level surface, light weights, and a yoga mat.  This workout will leave you feeling replenished – not depleted – and you’ll have access to a library of hundreds of videos ranging from 10-60 minutes in length.  Barre3 is best for those wanting a unique workout that gives you strength and cardio without the exhaustion.

There are a few free workouts available and monthly subscriptions start at $10.

Daily Burn

Daily burn describes itself as “the best streaming workouts from elite trainers, available any time on any device.” Daily Burn has everything from kettlebells to cardio and yoga workouts.  They pride themselves on the variety of workouts available on the site, as well as nutrition and general health advice. This program is best for busy moms who want to mix it up daily with some of the best trainers for an affordable price.

You can do a 30-day free trial and then membership is $10 per month.

YouTube Workouts

YouTube workouts are excellent, as you can find many videos done by well-known trainers and they’re free! Some of the best channels are Jessica Smith TV, Blogilates, Tone It Up, Fitness Blender, and BeFit, just to name a few.

These workouts often offer a lot of variety as well, and you can get your cardio, strength, yoga and Pilates without spending any money or leaving the house.

If you want more than what the channels offer, the top trainers often also have DVDs and downloads available for purchase.

FitnessGlo & YogaGlo

FitnessGlo offers everything from Strength to Tabata to High Intensity Interval Training, along with 8-week structured programs to ensure that you’re getting a well-rounded workout program.  You can search workouts by Style, Instructor, Duration, and Level, allowing you to customize your workout on a daily basis.

FitnessGlo offers a 15-day free trial and then costs $12 per month.

YogaGlo is the yoga version of FitnessGlo, offering affordable yoga classes from some of the biggest names in the business.  You can also search this site through a variety of filters, and you have the option of classes that are 5-120 minutes in length.

YogaGlo offers a 15-day free trial and then costs $18 per month.

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

How to Stand Out From the Social Media Competition

Having a prominent, consistent and engaging social media presence is non-negotiable if you want to be successful; it builds trust with customers, draws in new customers and helps retain customers. That said, there are specific strategies businesses can use to improve social networking tactics and, ultimately, drive more business.

Focus

There are countless social networks to choose from, each one with its own medium. For example, Pinterest and Instagram focus on visuals, Twitter relies on text and Reddit runs on its discussions. Not all business models are fit for every social network. It is important for businesses to focus on one to two social accounts that really fit the business model, brand, customer base and overall goals. To do this, research your demographic to find out which social networks they use the most. From there, narrow that down to the networks you can use effectively and consistently.

Use Hashtags and Tags

Customers browsing through social media platforms find businesses at random through hastags. Hashtags group relevant content together making it easier for potential customers to find your business. You can create a hashtag specific to a campaign to expand your brand reach. As an example, Lifelock uses this technique on their Facebook page with the hashtag #Lifelockforgood which highlights the businesses volunteering efforts.

Build Trust Through Consistency

Social media platforms are excellent resources to build trust and sincere relationships with your customers and clients. But, in order to build that foundation, your business must have a consistent presence on social media. When a potential customer or client considers buying from you, they will likely visit your social accounts, and if you haven’t tweeted, pinned or updated a status in more than three weeks, it could cause the customer to veer away and buy from someone else. Build a consistent schedule that your business can stick to. Gain the trust of your customers and prove your validity as a resource for what your audience needs.

Engage and Respond

No one wants to interact with auto-responses or a constant barrage of pre-scheduled posts and updates. It is essential that businesses engage with customers and respond to inquiries in a timely manner. This humanizes your business and instills a certain level of comfort and shows that your employees are relatable. Engaging with your customers will make your brand stand out instead of blending in with flat, one-dimensional businesses.

Create a Manageable Schedule

Being a consistent voice on social media platforms can be a hefty amount of work if you’re not organized. Creating a schedule or editorial calendar is more efficient than spending hours posting everyday. A few things to consider:

Is your audience engaged? Creating a winning editorial calendar that posts everyday at noon is pointless if your demographic is most active in the evening. Use social media analytics tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to determine the best time of day for you to schedule posts.

What content is most popular? Track the most popular content for your audience so you can continue to maximize on that interest and engagement across all channels.

Are you posting actionable marketing? You want to include things like coupon codes, previews of new arrivals or any other incentive for followers to find out more information about your business and make a purchase.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

3 Productivity Tips for Work from Home Employees

Numerous studies have shown that when employees work from home, productivity increases. Although this is widely true, if you’re new to a home-based career, you might find productivity initially difficult.

You’re going from a structured office environment with employees and your boss nearby to a much more independent workspace. Read along for some productivity tips for work from home employees.

Track Your Time

Track your time every day, and for every task, especially if you work hourly. Define your objectives and what you want to accomplish. When you can see what you’re doing on a consistent basis, you’re able to schedule more effectively in the future. Yes, it’s great if you’re accomplishing your daily tasks without tracking hours, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be more productive next week.  It’s only when you can see everything laid out and where you’re utilizing time wisely (or not so wisely) that you can put a more effective weekly plan in place.

Use the Right Tools

The right tools can make all the difference in your productivity.  Whether you need a tool for documents or one for scheduling, you can find many that will help you plan and execute your day more seamlessly.

View the tools for your home-based career as your accountability (like an office-based supervisor). They will keep you organized, allow you to share with colleagues, and give you access from anywhere.

Keep a Schedule

Maintain a schedule just like a normal job and a normal workday. In a work from home job, it can be easy to fall into a lazy day, noticing that you haven’t accomplished anything at 4 PM! When you have a schedule and get into the groove of following it, you can see your day as a whole and be sure that you’re checking the important things off.  Your schedule should include each item that needs accomplished and the approximate time needed to complete it correctly.

Utilize your schedule for personal and family appointments and tasks as well, since they will cut into your work hours. If you have to work a bit later or earlier to make up for any time off, factor that in.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips for Professional Social Media Success

As almost everyone knows, social media is a huge part of our lives, both personally and professionally. Whether you’re in the job searching process or just want to maintain a professional social media presence, there are best practices to utilize for success.

There are many benefits of social media, the main one being the ability to communicate and connect with so many people.  In today’s world, social media can truly help you grow personally and professionally, as long as you’re utilizing it with professionalism and skill.

Give a Status Update

Especially when utilizing LinkedIn, the most professional social network, be sure that you’re updating professionally and frequently. Whether you use the brief status update tool or the publisher tool for longer posts, create your updates consistently. Keep your updates professionally-focused and relevant to your business or area of interest.

By posting updates that provide value, information, and solid content for your followers, you’re establishing yourself as an expert in your given area, while also providing your audience with a great reason to follow you. Giving value to your followers is a much better way to sell, show your expert status, and keep your readers interested in what you’re doing.

Keep it Professional

It’s best to keep your Facebook page informal but professional.  While you can certainly keep personal photos, information, and status updates, be sure that all information is kept at a professional level that would be okay if viewed by potential employers.

Facebook and Twitter are excellent places to share your life and personality, but since we’re in the workplace, it has to remain professional as well.  Also, business information on a small scale is okay, but if you have your own business that you’d like to post about daily, create a separate Facebook business page to keep audiences separate.

For professionalism on LinkedIn, utilize a professional headshot.  While you don’t need to go to an actual professional photographer for the photo, you can use a sophisticated headshot.  Dress nicely and have a friend take your photo on a neutral backdrop.  There are numerous resources online for sample headshots and examples of what to wear for your photo.

Have a Professional Name

If you’ve had the same email address since middle school, it’s time for an upgrade! It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, something such as your firstname.lastname@domain.com is perfect. Do your best to keep it easy, memorable, and of course – clean and professional.

Once your email address is professional, use that email address signature to place your social networks. Place social media icons along with links to your different pages, as this encourages contacts to add you elsewhere, expanding your connections and business network.

Up to Date

On all of your social networks, it’s important to keep all information up to date. Even on Facebook, do your best to keep job positions up-to-date, and fill in relevant information whenever possible.

Although we don’t typically view Facebook as a job lead source, it can be! Sometimes recruiters contact people via Facebook due to their jobs, so keep them updated, especially if you’re in the market for a new job.

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips for Work from Home Parents

There are numerous tips out there for those of us who work from home. While they are very helpful and well-meaning, it can initially be even more of a challenge if you’re a work from home parent.

If your children are in school all day or grown, this isn’t as much of a challenge, but it can be tough on your motivation and productivity if you have small children that you’re caring for all day. With a few simple steps and a good hold on boundaries, you can complete your work while keeping a healthy, happy household.

Find Help

If you know that you’ll often be on the phone or interacting with clients in your work from home job, it may be easier to find childcare for your kid(s).  Whether you hire a babysitter or arrange for grandma to keep the kids each afternoon, this will free up your time and space for a quiet call.

If possible, make this a routine to keep the kids and yourself on a positive, productive schedule. If your job is more flexible, you may be able to keep your kids most of the time, save for a very important monthly meeting, for example.  You’ll know which child care options work best for you, your family, and your career demands as you move forward.

Set the Rules

Especially when you have smaller children, setting boundaries and rules for the day is so important. Of course, if you plan to care for the kids alone while working from home, you’ll be interacting with them often during the day. While this is normal in this type of career setup, you’ll still need to let kids know when you need quiet time or you’re expecting an important call.

Boundaries and rules are also crucial with pets. They may not be able to understand your words, but you can establish routines that will encourage them to rest, be as quiet as possible, and allow you to work without a lot of noise or chaos. When the whole family is on board with what’s needed for you to get your job done, things move much more smoothly.  Voice your needs and concerns up front, establish a family routine, and stick to it as much as you can.

Leave the House

Leaving the house can be a good idea for you and your kids. If you’re feeling distracted or things have become crazy in the household, get out for an hour or two and mix up the environment. We all have off days, and when you have a flexible work from home job, you’re more likely able to get out when you need to.

If your kids are in the care of a babysitter or family member, getting out can still help your motivation and productivity as well.  Use your child-free time to complete more work and take any calls that may require complete quiet.

Be Flexible

Allow for the issues and distractions to pop up! Try as you might, there will still be days when the kids are sick or the dogs are barking uncontrollably on a conference call.  We’re all human and these things do happen! If you’re able to get in a good groove early on, those little hiccups won’t make as much of an impact on your overall productivity.  If you have an off day, simply complete more work in the evening or plan out the rest of your week to include a few more hours.  When we’re parents, it’s a delicate balance between routine and the unpredictable.  Do your best to go with what comes up and plan as you see fit.

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

Change Your Setting to Increase Productivity

Whether you work out of an office or from your kitchen table, where you work will affect how you work. There is a large body of research that tells us that the sights, sounds and routines of the daily work environment directly influence our productivity. If you want to increase your productiveness, then try playing with your work setting. 

A Change of Color

For several decades now, scientists have been looking at color’s effect on human behavior. Some research shows that pastel colors lead to calming thoughts and that bold reds and blues can positively affect the rate of work of a subject. To increase your work productivity, try experimenting with different colors in your office space. You do not need to paint and re-paint the walls. Hangings and artwork with a defined color scheme will do the trick.

Let There Be Light

The amount and source of light in the office has a direct impact on work behavior and mood. Most people know anecdotally that soft, artificial lighting lends itself to a sleepy surrounding. Bright lights can influence behavior, making a person more awake, but also anxious and unfocused. Strong, natural light seems to be the best mix for productivity. To moderate the intensity of the light in the office, use light-filtering roller shades and blinds that will allow just the right amount of sun into the workspace. The aesthetic nature of the light filter will also increase positive work judgement, helping you to want to spend time in the office.

The Green Effect

Bring a fern into the office. Research shows that green plants in the office space increase the quality of the living area, the worker’s well-being and overall productivity. Green life in the office lowers heart rate, increases respirations and helps with blood flow to the extremities. The type of plant is a factor in this, too. Green, small plants that have a slight scent seemed to have the greatest positive effect on the workspace.

Change Your View

The exposure to nature is a strong factor in human well-being. Just the sight of a lake, forest or mountain can lower heart rates and drive a person into a state of relaxation. If you have the option, re-configure your office space so that you are facing an exterior window. The view does not need to be magnificent, but even a cloud or pigeon can increase your productivity. If this is not an option, then frame nature photos and use them as your office décor.

Take a Walk

Physical activity is shown to decrease work absences from illness and increase work productiveness. Every 40 minutes or so, get up and do some type of physical activity. Depending on your level of fitness, this can be anything from a little walk around the office to a set of push-ups. Some people have begun using desk treadmills where you can walk at a leisurely pace while still working at your desk. These devices let you keep the blood flowing even during a long, busy work day.

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June 25, 2015 0 Comments

4 Tips to Stay Motivated Working From Home

Staying motivated during the workday can be especially tough when your home is your office. When you go to an office, it’s a little bit easier to stay on task with the structure of your day, management presence, and the office environment itself.

Although it’s a challenge to create a routine that will work to provide motivation, it’s essential to complete your necessary tasks and stay focused. Here are some best practices on how to stay motivated when working from home.

Dress Up

When you work in an office, there’s no choice but to dress appropriately. Although home-based careers allow you the freedom of clothing choice, you’ll be much more motivated if you continue to dress for the office. You don’t have to go all out, but doing your hair, makeup, and wearing casual to business casual clothing can help.  Dressing in sweatpants is incredibly comfortable, but doesn’t always do much to keep us motivated.

Create a Schedule

Schedules are key, especially when you work from home! You really have to strive to keep your work life and home life separate, so scheduling your time, appointments, and tasks is crucial to success. Make a schedule at the beginning of the week, and continue to move items down the list if you don’t complete them on a certain day. When you see your week laid out, it removes the overwhelm and tells you exactly what you need to be doing.  It’s easier to keep the motivation going when you can charge through your schedule.

Give Yourself Time Off

Whether it’s a 10-minute break or a few days off, you need to relax and recharge. When motivation is seriously waning, it’s typically because we haven’t had enough time to unplug. Taking a few short breaks during the day should go without saying, but add them to your schedule anyway! It’s always fun to take a quick walk, grab a snack, or get some fresh air.  When you need more recharging, make sure you’re taking time off to relax or spend time with family. Especially when you work from home, it can start to feel like you spend all your time in your home environment.  Keep your health intact by scheduling the appropriate amount of time off from work.

Do Something Fun

If you’re feeling unmotivated or your weeks are starting to run together, mix up your routine a bit. Call a friend or colleague and meet up for lunch, or take some of your calls outside, if at all possible. When you can change just the slightest parts of your routine, it can remove the monotony and spike motivation quickly!

(Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

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